Places to visit in

Goa

Se Cathedral (Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina) in Old Goa is one of the largest churches in Asia and a landmark of Portuguese colonial architecture in India. Built to commemorate the Portuguese victory in 1510 and dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, it forms a core part of the UNESCO-listed Churches and Convents of Goa. The cathedral showcases a blend of late-Gothic, Portuguese-Manueline and Baroque architectural elements and has played a central role in Goa's religious and cultural history for centuries.

Church of St. Cajetan (Igreja de São Caetano) is a 17th-century Roman Catholic church in Old Goa, built by Italian Theatine priests. It is an important example of Baroque architecture in Goa and reflects strong influence from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The church forms part of the monumental ensemble of Old Goa — a UNESCO World Heritage area — which preserves the region's colonial and religious history.

Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (Panaji, Goa) is one of the most iconic Catholic churches in Goa and a prominent symbol of Portuguese colonial heritage in India. The site began as a small chapel in the 16th century (traditionally dated to 1541); the present structure reflects later Portuguese-era rebuilding and renovations and has served as a major religious and community landmark for centuries. The church's prominent hilltop location and whitewashed façade make it a key visual identifier for Panaji and Goa's colonial townscape.

The Church of Our Lady of the Mount (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte) is a Portuguese-era hilltop church in Goa that exemplifies the region’s colonial religious architecture and long-standing Catholic traditions. Perched on a gentle rise, the church serves both as a place of worship for local Catholics and as a cultural landmark illustrating Goa’s blend of Indian and Lusitanian influences. Its location provides scenic views over the surrounding landscape and the city of Panaji, making it significant for both spiritual visitors and sightseers.

Deity / Importance: Shri Mangesh Temple is one of Goa's most important Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Mangesh (a form of Lord Shiva). Located in Priol, Ponda taluka, the temple is a major religious and cultural centre for local communities (especially the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community) and attracts devotees and tourists across India. The site symbolizes religious resilience and the continuity of temple traditions in Goa.

Shri Shantadurga Temple (Kavale/Kavalem, Ponda, Goa) is one of Goa's most important Hindu shrines, particularly for the Saraswat Brahmin community and other Konkani-speaking devotees. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Shantadurga — a peaceful form of Durga — and serves as a key centre of religious life, local identity and cultural continuity in Goa, especially after many temples were relocated inland during Portuguese colonial rule. Architecturally, it represents a blend of traditional Konkani temple styles with local Goan features and shows the region's temple-building revival in the 17th–18th centuries.

Overview: Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla is one of Goa's oldest and best-preserved Hindu temples, dated to around the 11th–12th century CE. Built in basalt in a distinctive classical style, it is an important example of rock architecture on the Konkan coast and a rare surviving monument from the period of regional dynasties (often attributed to the Kadamba era influences). The temple's location inside the Bhagwan Mahavir / Mollem forest makes it significant both culturally and naturally — it represents the coexistence of heritage and biodiverse tropical forest.

Three Kings Chapel (locally often called 'Capela dos Três Reis Magos') is a small Portuguese-era chapel in Goa that reflects the region's colonial and religious history. It is valued as an example of vernacular Goan-Portuguese ecclesiastical architecture and serves as a local focal point for community worship. The chapel's dedication to the Three Kings (the Magi) ties it to Christian traditions celebrated by Goan Catholics and contributes to the area's cultural landscape.

St. Alex Church, Goa is a local parish church reflecting Goa's Portuguese colonial and Catholic heritage. While not among the largest Goan cathedrals, it serves as an important religious, cultural and community center for the surrounding town and parishioners. The church architecture and liturgical art echo the fusion of European baroque influences with local craft traditions, making it a meaningful stop for visitors interested in Goa's ecclesiastical history and living faith traditions.

Dudhsagar Falls ("Sea of Milk") is one of India’s tallest waterfalls and a major natural landmark on the Mandovi River, located on the Goa–Karnataka border within the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. It is ecologically important for the surrounding evergreen forests and supports diverse flora and fauna, including birds and wildlife of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. The falls are also a significant attraction for Goa’s eco-tourism and draw visitors for their scenic and photographic value.

Harvalem (Arvalem) Waterfalls is a popular natural attraction in North Goa near Sanquelim (Bicholim taluka). It is valued for its scenic cascade, a natural pool at the base, and proximity to the ancient Arvalem (Pandava) Caves and a small historic temple complex, making it a combined nature-and-heritage stop for visitors. The falls contribute to local biodiversity and are a seasonal highlight for photographers and nature lovers.

Netravali (Savari) Waterfall lies within the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in South Goa and is an important natural landmark known for its lush Western Ghats biodiversity. The site is valued for its perennial cascades, evergreen forests, and as habitat for endemic flora and fauna (butterflies, birds, reptiles and small mammals). It is an accessible example of Goa's less-visited interior landscapes, offering a contrast to the coast's beaches.

Mainapi Waterfall is a small but scenic waterfall set in Goa's inland Western Ghats foothills. While not of major historical significance, it is valued locally for its natural beauty and for being part of the region's rich monsoon-fed river and forest ecosystems. The fall contributes to local biodiversity, supporting riparian vegetation, birds, and insects, and is appreciated by nature lovers seeking quieter alternatives to Goa's beaches.

Tambdi Surla Waterfall is a scenic cascade located inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. The waterfall is set in dense Western Ghats forest and is valued for its natural beauty, biodiversity and proximity to the 12th‑century Hemadpanthi Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple — an important cultural and architectural landmark in the region. The area is important for conservation of endemic flora and fauna and provides a relatively unspoilt nature experience close to Goa's interior.

Mayem Lake is a tranquil freshwater lake located near the village of Mayem in North Goa's Bicholim area. It serves as an important local reservoir and is valued for its scenic natural setting—surrounded by laterite hills, thick vegetation and small farming communities. The lake supports local biodiversity, supplies water for irrigation and local use, and forms a peaceful contrast to Goa's busy coastal areas.

Carambolim Lake (also spelled Karmali/Carambolim) is a freshwater wetland in North Goa that functions as an important ecological hotspot. It is recognized locally as an Important Bird Area and supports a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl and wetland species. The lake and surrounding marshes contribute to local livelihoods (fishing, small-scale agriculture) and provide important ecosystem services such as groundwater recharge and habitat for wetland flora and fauna.

Netravali Bubbling Lake (Budbudyanchi Tali) is a natural freshwater lake located in the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in South Goa. It is notable for its unique bubbling phenomenon—gas and water bubbles emerging from underwater springs—creating a soft gurgling sound and rippling surface. The lake is part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contributes to the region's rich biodiversity, supporting surrounding evergreen forests, rare flora, and fauna. The site is ecologically important as a freshwater source and as habitat within a protected sanctuary that helps conserve endemic species and maintain ecological balance in the region.

The Mandovi River is one of Goa's principal waterways, often called the "lifeline of Goa." It has been central to the region's trade, transport and settlement patterns since ancient times. The river's estuarine environment supports diverse mangrove habitats and rich fisheries, and its banks host historically significant settlements such as Old Goa and Panaji. During Portuguese rule, the river facilitated maritime trade and cultural exchange, shaping Goa's distinctive Indo-Portuguese heritage.

Zuari River is one of Goa's principal waterways and a major estuary that has shaped the state's geography, economy and coastal culture. The river's estuary and upstream mangrove systems support important fisheries and rich biodiversity. Historically the Zuari and its estuary enabled maritime trade and supported the development of port settlements such as Mormugao and Vasco da Gama, influencing Goa's colonial and commercial history.

The Sal River is a small but ecologically important river in Goa, forming part of the state's estuarine and mangrove systems. It supports local fisheries, traditional livelihoods and a variety of birdlife. The river and its banks have long been integrated into the life of nearby Goan villages, with riverside chapels, temples and communities shaped by its seasonal rhythms.